Thanks to everyone who has replied to my recent posts. I'm under the gun to get things ready for auction on Saturday and I appreciate your willingness to help with things.
The tractor in question belongs to my MIL by way of my FIL. He passed away 20+ years ago and my Dad helped me get this particular tractor running again several years ago. I was doing a pretty good job of keeping the old tractor running by starting it and driving it around every so often, but the birth of my son 2 years ago kept me from doing it quite as often (I live 150 miles away).
My MIL offered to give it to me, and I considered it; mostly as something to pass along to my daughter or son from their Grandfather they never met (his parents used it to farm before he owned it). When it comes right down to it, I don't have a place to keep it, I'm not smart enough to keep it running, and I don't have the time and money to take care of it like it should be.
So, back in February, I started trying to fire the tractor up so it can be auctioned off. The battery was dead, and it didn't want to start, even with a replacement. The biggest concern is getting it from my Dad's place where we had worked on it (replaced plugs, wires, filters, oil, waterpump), back to my MIL's place for the auction. I didn't have much time then, so I gave up on it.
Today was my one and only day to try to get it going. I had a new battery that I knew was charged, but the poor starter was having a heck of a time turning the motor over. I did what I know how to do and went through all of the battery and starter connections to make sure everything was clean. I even took the starter off and had it tested and it is fine, but it would not crank over like it should in order to start.
My Dad gets home from work this evening and we are both scratching our heads about it. We've done everything we can to make sure the battery-starter circuit is good and it still won't turn over correctly and fire (it sounded terrible). While we were trying yet again, my wife comes out to offer some moral support and asks if I had noticed the smoke coming from "that wire". Well, I hadn't, and sure enough, the wire from the ignition to the coil was getting hot enough it was melting the insulation off the wire!
So, we cut the old wire out and replaced it. Dad double checked the points and re-gapped them (we replaced them when we got it running the first time several years ago). I turned the key and it fired almost immediately! It still needs some carb work before it is really ready to work again, and I don't know about the PTO because I've never used it, but I think the engine and transmission are as good as you would expect a 55 year old piece of machinery to be. (and yes, I know the reputation of the 2010)
Tomorrow I will drive it the 7 miles from my Dad's to my MIL's and on Saturday it will be in the sale. I know it will be a little sad to watch it go, and I hope my FIL isn't too upset at me. I'm trying to do my best to help my MIL (she's pretty overwhelmed with all of this), but I know I'm not doing things the way he would.
Anyway, this tractor is what brought me here. I hope you don't mind if I still hang out. I don't know anything really about these old tractors, or farming, but I enjoy all I learn here!
Thank you for your help!
The tractor in question belongs to my MIL by way of my FIL. He passed away 20+ years ago and my Dad helped me get this particular tractor running again several years ago. I was doing a pretty good job of keeping the old tractor running by starting it and driving it around every so often, but the birth of my son 2 years ago kept me from doing it quite as often (I live 150 miles away).
My MIL offered to give it to me, and I considered it; mostly as something to pass along to my daughter or son from their Grandfather they never met (his parents used it to farm before he owned it). When it comes right down to it, I don't have a place to keep it, I'm not smart enough to keep it running, and I don't have the time and money to take care of it like it should be.
So, back in February, I started trying to fire the tractor up so it can be auctioned off. The battery was dead, and it didn't want to start, even with a replacement. The biggest concern is getting it from my Dad's place where we had worked on it (replaced plugs, wires, filters, oil, waterpump), back to my MIL's place for the auction. I didn't have much time then, so I gave up on it.
Today was my one and only day to try to get it going. I had a new battery that I knew was charged, but the poor starter was having a heck of a time turning the motor over. I did what I know how to do and went through all of the battery and starter connections to make sure everything was clean. I even took the starter off and had it tested and it is fine, but it would not crank over like it should in order to start.
My Dad gets home from work this evening and we are both scratching our heads about it. We've done everything we can to make sure the battery-starter circuit is good and it still won't turn over correctly and fire (it sounded terrible). While we were trying yet again, my wife comes out to offer some moral support and asks if I had noticed the smoke coming from "that wire". Well, I hadn't, and sure enough, the wire from the ignition to the coil was getting hot enough it was melting the insulation off the wire!
So, we cut the old wire out and replaced it. Dad double checked the points and re-gapped them (we replaced them when we got it running the first time several years ago). I turned the key and it fired almost immediately! It still needs some carb work before it is really ready to work again, and I don't know about the PTO because I've never used it, but I think the engine and transmission are as good as you would expect a 55 year old piece of machinery to be. (and yes, I know the reputation of the 2010)
Tomorrow I will drive it the 7 miles from my Dad's to my MIL's and on Saturday it will be in the sale. I know it will be a little sad to watch it go, and I hope my FIL isn't too upset at me. I'm trying to do my best to help my MIL (she's pretty overwhelmed with all of this), but I know I'm not doing things the way he would.
Anyway, this tractor is what brought me here. I hope you don't mind if I still hang out. I don't know anything really about these old tractors, or farming, but I enjoy all I learn here!
Thank you for your help!
